The Nilakka was designed by award-winning Finnish knifemaker Pekka Tuominen. Tuominen is one of the world's most knowledgeable experts on the traditional Finnish puukko knife and one of only seven puukkoseppamestari, or master bladesmiths certified by the Finnish Ministry of Education. He is an expert at all aspects of bladesmithing and knifemaking and takes great pride in personally crafting every detail of his knives and sheaths. He is also a winner of numerous puukko-making competitions and a member of both the Scandinavian Knifemaker's Guild and the Finnish Knife Association. Spyderco® is honored to work with this incredibly talented craftsman and to share his designs through their products. The Nilakka is the result of Spyderco's longstanding quest to translate the traditional Finnish puukko to a modern folding knife. In the spirit of the other knives in Spyderco's Ethnic Series—and based on the success of Tuominen's FB28 fixed-blade Puukko design—Spyderco asked him to express the critical qualities of the classic puukko in a folder. Through a collaborative exchange and a number of prototype revisions, the knife gradually evolved into its final form.

It's a whole new species of lightweight folder never before available. Griptilian gives you a handful of modern age creature comforts specially bred for the person who wants something more from a knife and at a price everyone can live with. This knife is born of custom knife maker Mel Pardue's passion for functional designs. So now you've been warned, don't hold back...GET THE GRIP!-GET THE GRIPTILIAN.